Chapter 305: 305. Fall in love with me

Translator: 549690339

The stars in the sky were silent, and Su Liang on the ground wanted to… fight. “You…” Su Liang took a deep breath, telling herself to stay calm, “You’re trying to seduce me.”

A confident tone.

Gu Ling nodded in acknowledgment and sighed inaudibly, “It seems useless.” “Taking off your clothes isn’t seduction?” Su Liang scoffed.

Gu Ling paused, his hand already on his belt, “Shall we… go back to the room?”

“You can go back yourself.” Su Liang’s eyes had regained their calm, “If you don’t know how to solve your physiological needs on your own, I can teach you.”

Gu Ling: .

“As for your saying you like me, I believe you. I also know the cause and effect relationship between this and your wanting to sleep with me.” Su Liang’s expression was indifferent.

She was initially furious, mainly because of shock.

At this moment, Su Liang’s reason returned, and looking back at tonight’s events and her previous interactions with Gu Ling, she believed every word he said. He had liked her long ago, and because he liked her, he had desire, not the other way around.

However, the information was a bit too much for Su Liang to digest in a short time.

Gu Ling exhaled slightly. He was touched that Su Liang still believed in his character by now and felt some hope that this confession could be saved… However, in the next moment, Su Liang said, “Let’s part ways.”

Gu Ling’s eyes narrowed, and he blurted out, “No.”

“Anyway, you lied to me.” Su Liang said, “I was the one who proposed marriage, but I thought you wanted the same thing as I did, just to solve unnecessary troubles. I never expected you to be serious. All along, the most important foundation for us to live together was honesty. In this fake marriage, you gave me what I wanted, but I can’t give you what you want. It’s not fair to you. Let’s just call it off.”

“I don’t think it’s unfair.” Gu Ling shook his head, “I disagree with calling it off.”

“Whatever, I don’t care about the name, but I want to separate from you now.” Su Liang finished talking and walked forward. When she passed Gu Ling, he reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Let go.” Su Liang frowned. Gu Ling shook his head, “No.”

“You’re hurting me.” Su Liang said.

Gu Ling loosened his grip, and Su Liang ran forward, as if eager to get away from him.

Watching Su Liang’s figure disappear into the night, Gu Ling’s heart sank further and further, stiff and motionless, his outstretched hand forgotten to be withdrawn…

Su Liang believed in him, but she was unwilling to accept… this recognition made Gu Ling’s heart uncomfortable, as if suddenly missing a large piece, empty and cold, the cold wind pouring in, penetrating, so cold. For the second time in his life, he experienced what it was like to be heartbroken. The first time was when his mother died.

Finally coming back to his senses, Gu Ling’s hand hanging in midair, silently made the Vulcan hand gesture that Su Liang had made to him tonight, and then slammed down, chasing after the direction Su Liang had disappeared in.

Even if he had to go, it should be him leaving, it was dangerous for Su Liang to go out late at night… This thought kept Gu Ling’s heart hanging, but after leaving the Lian Mansion, he didn’t know where to look for Su Liang. Gu Ling went back and searched the Lian Mansion up and down but couldn’t find Su Liang’s whereabouts.

Having experienced a disaster and returning home for the first night, Lian Shun, who had just fallen asleep, was awakened by Gu Ling’s slap on his fnrphpnd

“Who is it?” Lian Shun jumped up from the bed, looking like he had seen a ghost. When he recognized it was Gu Ling, he was simply speechless, “Gu Xiaoling, instead of hugging Su Xiaoliang in bed at night, you come to scare me dressed as a ghost?”

At this moment, Gu Ling, with his long black hair draped over him, wearing a large sleeping robe, pale as a ghost, and dark eyes, indeed looked a bit scary.

Gu Ling wanted to ask Lian Shun if he had arranged another place for Su Liang to stay, but seeing his appearance, it was clear that Su Liang hadn’t been there.

So, Gu Ling turned around and disappeared.

Lian Shun was left dumbfounded, and it took a moment for him to come back to his senses, convinced he had just had a dream, then shook his head repeatedly, “No way! It must be Gu Xiaoling dreaming! He’s sleepwalking!”

Lian Shun lay back down but still felt something was off, ‘Gu Xiaoling goes to bed with Su Xiaoliang, and when he sleepwalks, she doesn’t care or doesn’t notice? That’s too scary. I have to remind her tomorrow to always let Gu Xiaoling sleep on the inside at night…”

The Lian Mansion was empty, and Gu Ling went out again, walking through the dark streets and alleys, all of which were as empty as his lost heart.

After searching in vain, Gu Ling suddenly thought of the day when he and Su Liang had taken a boat ride. Had she left the city in anger and gone to the river to cool down?

So, Gu Ling hurriedly left the city and went to the place where he and Su Liang had disembarked during the day.

The guard troops of Jiaye City’s South Gate were wide awake tonight, highly alert and prepared for any possible attack from the Yin Country people.

On the city building, a patrolling soldier was vividly describing to others how Su Liang had made the Fan father and son pay for their crimes in blood during the day.

Two soldiers lamented their regret for not being among the first to witness Su Liang avenging General Yuan Ye and dealing a just punishment to the Fan father and son.

“General Su?”

“What General Su? Stop kidding.”

The soldiers turned around and saw a slender figure appeared not far away, silently watching them.

“Su… General Su!” Several soldiers quickly lined up and saluted with their fists.

Su Liang nodded slightly, “Hmm. You’ve worked hard. Continue, I can’t sleep, so I’m just taking a look.”

Several soldiers thought they were going to be scolded, but instead received an acknowledgment of their hard work, which warmed their hearts. What Su Liang meant by “continue” was, of course, to get back to their duties, not continue chatting.

Soon, the Junior Officer on duty at the South Gate that night came running to report to Su Liang. There was no abnormality.

“This is the most important checkpoint. Do not let your guard down.” Su Liang’s tone was not harsh. As she spoke, her thoughts drifted, wondering whether leaving Lian Mansion and running away would make Gu Ling worried… After a pause, Su Liang looked outside the South Gate and told the Junior Officer not to bother with her, and go back to doing his duties.

Walking around the city building, Su Liang saw the flagpole where Fan Tong had been hanged during the day, along with a large pool of blood on the ground. No one had cleaned up the bloodstains, which had been left on purpose as a consolation to General Yuan Ye’s spirit in heaven.

After another walk around, Su Liang decided to return to Lian Mansion. Being separated was one thing, but it was wrong to run away without saying anything. Since she didn’t run away, she should let Gu Ling know.

Halfway there, Su Liang hesitated again. If she went back and reported her whereabouts to Gu Ling, wouldn’t it be the same as before? Her mind was in turmoil and she couldn’t accept the sudden change in their relationship. It felt strange, especially when Gu Ling tried to seduce her with his good looks, which sent chills down her spine. Was that the aloof Great God she knew? At that moment, she only had one thought: she needed some time alone to calm down…

Visiting the South Gate to inspect the situation did not improve her mood, because she, who wanted to stay away from Gu Ling to calm down, couldn’t help but want to return to tell Gu Liang where she had been…

This troubled Su Liang. Was her dependence on Gu Ling so deep that she could no longer live independently?

No, she treated Gu Ling as a friend. Even as a friend, she had a responsibility to let Gu Ling know she was not in any danger.

With this in mind, Su Liang returned to Lian Mansion.

As she approached the courtyard Lian Shun had arranged for her and Gu Ling, Su Liang thought that the light had been on originally. If the light was still on, maybe Gu Ling was there, maybe not. But if the light was out, he must be asleep…

Thinking this way, Su Liang hid in a corner and peeked inside. She didn’t know why she had to be so sneaky, but she just didn’t want Gu Ling to know she had come back.

At a glance, she saw that the door was closed, and the light had been extinguished.

Su Liang tapped her forehead: Stay awake! Gu Ling had already gone to bed; what was she thinking?

When she left Lian Mansion again, Su Liang was even angrier. Damn it, even if they weren’t a couple anymore, they were still friends. Was Gu Ling not worried that she might get caught by the Yin Country people when she went out? She didn’t know him well enough; his aloofness was all an act, and he was just a repressed ghost!

As a second-rank Military Commander sent south by the Imperial Edict, Su Liang visited the South Gate twice that night, even joining the patrol team outside the city on the second visit, which deeply moved and impressed the guard troops at the gate.

On the other side, Gu Ling didn’t know that the wind had blown out the light and left the door ajar, making Su Liang mistakenly think he was asleep.

When Gu Ling arrived at the bank of Liuxian River, where he and Su Liang had disembarked during the day, he couldn’t find the small boat they had taken.

Could it be that Su Liang had really gone sailing to clear her mind… Gu Ling frowned, standing by the river, letting the cool wind mess up his hair. Su

Liang’s first visit to Jiaye City, apart from the Lin’s Family, she only knew Yuan Pei and a few other generals, but they were not close enough to warrant her barging into their homes in the middle of the night.

The more he thought, the more Gu Ling believed that Su Liang was drifting somewhere on the river on that small boat, and he had to find her. It would be very cold in the latter part of the night, and she was lightly dressed. She would freeze if she stayed outside.

With this thought in mind, Gu Ling used his lightness skill to sprint along the riverside, searching for Su Liang and the small boat.

He went eastward, even surpassing the furthest point where their boat had drifted while they slept the day before, but still found no trace of Su Liang.

When the sky began to turn pale, Gu Ling turned around with a dejected expression, feeling that maybe he had been searching in the wrong direction from the beginning…

By the time Gu Ling returned to his starting point with his back to the rising sun, the morning mist had dampened his hair. He didn’t look for Su Liang along the western side of Liuxian River, but looked towards Jiaye City: Maybe Su Liang had already returned.

Gu Ling decided to return first to take a look.

Su Liang followed the patrol team to inspect various places outside the city until dawn and found no anomalies.

When entering the city, Su Liang met Yuan Pei, who also stopped in surprise.

“General Su.” Yuan Pei bowed slightly as a gesture of courtesy to Su Liang.

“What brings you here, Young Master Yuan?” Su Liang looked at the wooden bowl Yuan Pei held with clear water inside, puzzled. Neither Lian Xuan nor Yuan Ye had asked their descendants to continue their legacy. Yuan Pei was a scholar but had not taken the Imperial examination and did not have a position in the military.

Yuan Pei said somberly, “I want to collect some of Fan Tong’s blood and bring it back to offer in front of my grandfather’s Spirit Tablet.”

Su Liang thought of the bloodstain on the city building and sighed, “You go ahead.”

“Thank you, General Su, for what happened yesterday,” said Yuan Pei.

Su Liang shook her head, “It’s my duty. Young Master Yuan, please show restraint in your grief.”

With that, Su Liang bent down to pick up a piece of leaf stuck to her shoe, and Yuan Pei walked up to the city building with the wooden bowl.

Lian Shun was woken up by his mother.

“Mother, can’t I sleep a little longer since I’m injured?” Lian Shun closed his eyes and refused to open them.

Lin’s mother pulled Lian Shun’s uninjured arm, “Get up quickly. We have an esteemed guest, you have to entertain him.”

Lian Shun suddenly opened his eyes and sat up, “An esteemed guest… Gu

Xiaoling, right? His sleepwalking last night scared me to death!”

His mother was startled, “Sleepwalking? Don’t talk nonsense. How could

Marquis Gu sleepwalk? You must be dreaming.”

Lian Shun held his forehead, “Mother, I’m your real son.”

But thinking that he needed to tell Su Liang about Gu Ling’s sleepwalking last night, Lian Shun got up, planning to find them after getting ready. He also had to inform them about the tour around Jiaye City, which he had meticulously planned last night before going to sleep. He wouldn’t accept any refusal.

Su Liang left Lian Mansion in secret, and returned avoiding people, or she couldn’t explain her presence.

She had to go back to that courtyard, as her luggage was there, and she needed to change her clothes.

As she entered the courtyard, Su Liang thought that she still needed to keep her distance from Gu Ling for a while. She was too confused now, and she couldn’t figure out how their relationship should develop. She needed calmness, and that kind of calmness could only be achieved when she was not seeing Gu Ling…

At the door, Su Liang took a deep breath and knocked, “It’s me.”

After a while, the door finally opened.

Su Liang looked at Gu Ling, who appeared before her, and thought that she indeed didn’t misunderstand the situation last night. After she ran out, he went to sleep. Now his hair was bound up by a jade crown, and his clothes were neat and tidy – already changed! There was no apparent sadness on his face after being rejected! He was perfect from head to toe, but she really wanted to hit him…

“Come in.” Gu Ling glanced at Su Liang and turned around, his voice calm.

Su Liang entered the room, saw the bundle on the table missing from yesterday, and asked with a frown, “Where’s my luggage?”

“I put the clothes in the wardrobe. Half for each, yours are on the right.” Gu Ling sat down at the table, poured a cup of warm water, and motioned for Su Liang to sit down, placing the cup in front of her.

Su Liang felt something strange, but she was really thirsty. She picked up the cup and quickly drank the water, then her face suddenly changed, “Did you put something in the cup?

Gu Ling’s face darkened a bit, “I really want to … but do you think I’m that kind

of person?”

“You’ve done things like seducing me; who knows what kind of person you are?” Su Liang snorted lightly, put down the cup, picked up the teapot, and poured herself another cup, drinking it down.

Of course, she knew Gu Ling wouldn’t drug her, but she couldn’t help but vent her feelings…

“Let’s talk.” Gu Ling looked at Su Liang, who drank her third cup of water before he began to speak.

“Hmm,” Su Liang nodded, “We must keep our distance. What happened last night makes me feel very uneasy, and I can’t pretend it didn’t happen.”

The truth was, she couldn’t look at Gu Ling as before while sitting across from him. Whenever she saw him, the scene of him seducing her last night would appear in her mind…

“No.” Gu Ling’s reply was very straightforward.

Su Liang frowned, “Great God, I thought you were a reasonable person. We had agreed on a fake marriage, but you had ulterior motives and kept me in the dark.”

“I want to reason with you.” Gu Ling said as he took something out of his chest and put it in front of Su Liang, “Please fulfill your promise.”

As soon as Su Liang picked up the water cup, it suddenly shook, the water splashing on her hand and running down her fingers…

“You… are you… playing dirty!” Su Liang slammed her hand on the table, her face turning red with anger.

That’s because there was a delicate wooden plaque on the table, with three characters etched on it: “Forgive You”, signed by two water droplets.

The meaning was simple: Su Liang forgives Gu Ling.

“You gave this to me, and you promised that no matter why you were angry with me, you would unconditionally forgive me once.” Gu Ling looked at Su

Liang, his expression serious, “I ask you to cash it out now.”

Su Liang was infuriated and laughed, “Do you carry this trinket everywhere? Fine, I’ll cash it, I’ll forgive you for last night. But I still want to split up, it has nothing to do with last night, I don’t want to live with you anymore! I’m done playing!”

“Not possible.” Gu Ling’s thin lips slightly opened, and he took out a second plaque from his chest, placing it in front of Su Liang, engraved with the words “At Your Service.”

Staring blankly, Su Liang’s mind flashed back to the moment when she held up the plaque and said to Gu Ling, “At your service. No matter when or where, as long as you present this plaque to me, I will have no second opinions on whatever request you make. One use only.”

“I know you have a good memory and always keep your word.” Gu Ling looked at Su Liang.

Su Liang grabbed the two plaques and wanted to smash them in Gu Ling’s face,

“What do you want? Use this plaque to ask me to sleep with you?” Gu Ling shook his head, “I just want you to give me a chance, date me.”

“I’ll accept now, break up with you tomorrow, and that won’t be breaking my promise.” Su Liang scoffed.

Gu Ling just looked at her silently and did not speak.

The atmosphere went silent, and Su Liang’s heart became even more restless. After a while, she slapped the two plaques on the table, “You have to pay back eventually when you’re out and about! I only promise to try, if it doesn’t work, so be it!”

“I will succeed.” Gu Ling stood up and the depth of his ink-like eyes seemed to suddenly bloom a water lily, accompanied by a gentle shallow smirk, and his lips also lifted slightly.

Looking at Gu Ling, Su Liang lost her thoughts for a moment, then reacted by grabbing the ‘At Your Service’ plaque and smashing it in Gu Ling’s chest, “Does being beautiful matter? What are you smiling about? Seductive again!” Gu Ling nodded, “My skills are still shallow, but I will practice hard until I succeed.”

Su Liang turned and walked out, “I don’t want to see you.”

But Gu Ling walked in front of her, “I’ll go tell someone to prepare bathwater.”

As Su Liang watched Gu Ling’s figure disappear at the door and the door close from the outside, she had an indescribable expression. Indeed, she wanted to take a bath and change her clothes immediately. But could it be that someone was really good at mind reading and had been hiding it from her all this time?

“Date… What a joke…” Su Liang lay on the table, resting her head on the two wooden plaques, sighing, “Bastard, you were prepared. What a trap!”

Gu Ling asked a servant in the Lian Mansion to fetch hot water. Then he dragged Lian Shun out of the corner where he was eavesdropping.

“Gu Xiaoling, what are you doing?” Lian Shun sneered, “Be nicer to me, or I’ll expose your secret.”

A beautiful frown appeared on Gu Ling’s forehead, “What did you hear?”

Lian Shun let out a sly smile and said ambiguously, “I didn’t hear it too clearly, just bits and pieces, but I already know what happened! Last night you didn’t perform well, and you made Su Xiaoliang run away, right? That’s why you were searching for her, all distraught. I never thought that Gu Xiaoling, so beautiful, would… Never mind, I won’t make fun of you. Su Xiaoliang has agreed to give you another try, and she’s a doctor, so she’ll definitely cure you…”

Before Lian Shun could finish, Gu Ling stepped back and then kicked Lian Shun, sending him flying.

Lian Shun drew a smooth parabola through the air, landing without pressing on his injured right arm…

Lian Shun sighed wistfully, “Gu Xiaoling, you actually calculated my landing position? With such skill and yet unable to conquer your own wife, it seems the heavens are fair, after all.”

If Gu Ling heard Lian Shun’s words, he would definitely kick him like a ball, sending him enjoying the freedom of flying back and forth without aggravating his injuries…

After sending away the noisy Lian Shun, Gu Ling turned and looked at the closed door, imagining how much Su Liang wanted to hit him right now.

However, when he returned to the city early in the morning and accidentally overheard someone saying that Su Liang had gone on patrol last night, he was relieved to return home and change clothes.. Seeing the two wooden plaques hidden in the luggage, he made up his mind: Su Liang wanted to run, but there was no door or window!